take someone at his or her word

Idioms and Phrases

Also, take someone's word for . Accept what someone says on trust, as in Since he said he'd agree to any of my ideas, I'll take him at his word , or She said she wanted to help out and I took her word for it . This idiom appeared in Miles Coverdale's translation of the Bible: “He said ... he is my brother. And the men took him shortly at his word” (I Kings 22:33). It is still so used. [1535]